From indigestion to infection: What frequent burping could mean

Burping is something everyone does and it's a natural way of releasing gas from our stomach, especially after eating or drinking. But if it starts happening more than usual, it is normal to wonder whether it is something to worry about, is it a red flag that shouldn't be ignored?

Burping a couple of times after eating is completely natural. It typically occurs when air is trapped while eating or swallowing our food; the body just releases the air, which relieves the trapped gas in the stomach.

Reasons for excessive burping

Small daily routines and foods that may cause additional burping more than normal are:

• Eating or drinking too fast
• Chewing gum or sucking on a straw
• Anxious or stressed, and swallow more air without even knowing it.
• Acid reflux or indigestion
• Soda or sparkling water that contains carbonation

Most of the times these causes may appear harmless and easily dealt with through small lifestyle adjustments

When belching could be a sign of an issue in the gut

When belching is frequent or excessive, sometimes it is a symptom of an underlying digestive problem. Acid reflux (GERD), gastritis or infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are conditions that can cause persistent belching, frequently accompanied by symptoms like heartburn, bloating or nausea. All this may be a sign of gastroparesis, bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine or food intolerances like lactose or fructose intolerance, can also bring about belching.

One would be surprised to learn that excessive stress or worry can also cause belching even in the absence of gut disease by causing frequent swallowing of air. These symptoms might be a sign that the digestive system is not at its strongest as it ought to be, and it needs to be checked out by a doctor as well.

Recent findings indicate that excessive belching is more than a trivial gastrointestinal complaint or the mere sign of "food is digested." A Journal of Clinical Medicine article reports that individuals who have GERD tend to experience not only gastric belching (physiologic) but also supragastric belching (SGB). This belching only happens when air is quickly sucked in and out of the esophagus, sometimes without reaching the stomach at all. This could even be one of the reasons why most people's bodies do not respond favorably to acid reducing medications like PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitor).

When to see a doctor

• Burping is persistent and uncomfortable
• It is accompanied by bloating, stomach pain, vomiting or changes in appetite

How to minimize excessive belching

• Eat slowly
• Reduce processed foods
• Take probiotics
• Stay hydrated
• Deal with stress
• Avoid carbonated beverages